Department of Physics, Deshbandhu College (University of Delhi), New Delhi
Class: [Link]. (H) Semester-II (GE)
Name of Paper: Mechanics Name of Teacher: Dr. Vikram Verma
Mass-Energy Equivalence:
In special theory of relativity, the force acting on a particle is given by
d dv dm dm
F (mv) m v ma v (1)
dt dt dt dt
in which the mass ‘m’ of the particle depends on its velocity v and is given by
m0
m m0 , where (1 v 2 ) 1 / 2 .
2
2
1 v2 c
c
If particle is displaced through a small distance dr along the line of action of force F, then the work
done by this force on the particle is
d dr
dW F .dr (mv) dr d (mv) v d (mv) (2)
dt dt
If the particle starts from rest (v = 0) and acquires velocity v under the action of the force F, then, the
gain in kinetic energy will be equal to the total work done by the force F on the particle. That is
Gain in K.E. of the particle = work done by F on the particle in changing its velocity from v = 0 to v
Gain in K .E. ( E K ) work done by F on the particle in changing its velocity from v 0 to v v
v v (3)
E K dW vd (mv)
0 0
Integrating by parts
v v v m0
E K v d (mv) mv dv [[Link]]v0 vdv
2
0 0 0 1 v 2
c
v
2
mv 2 m0 c 2 1 v 2
c 0
mo v 2 2
m 0 c 2 1 v 2 m0 c 2
2 c
1 v2
c
2
m0 c
m0 c 2
2
1 v2
c
E K mc 2 m0 c 2 (m m0 )c 2 m c 2 (4)
This is the expression for relativistic kinetic energy.
Page 1 of 4
Department of Physics, Deshbandhu College (University of Delhi), New Delhi
Class: [Link]. (H) Semester-II (GE)
Name of Paper: Mechanics Name of Teacher: Dr. Vikram Verma
This equation (4) indicates that the gain in K.E. corresponds to the relativistic increase in mass
m m m0 with increase in velocity.
In eq. (4), the quantity m0 c 2 is the energy due to the rest mass of the particle and is called rest energy
or proper energy ‘E0’ of the particle i.e.,
E0 m0 c 2 (5)
Thus,
Total energy ( E ) kinetic energy ( E K ) rest energy ( E0 )
E (m m0 )c 2 m0 c 2 mc 2
m0 c 2
E mc 2
2
1 v2
c
This energy is called relativistic energy of the particle.
Equation (4) can be expressed as
2 12
E K m0 c 2 (1 v 2 ) m0 c 2
c
2 4
m0 c 2 (1 1 v 2 3 v 4 .........) m0 c 2
2c 8c
If v 1 , then
c
2 1
Ek m0 c 2 (1 1 v 2 ) m0 c 2 m0 v 2 .
2c 2
This is in agreement with the result of classical physics for kinetic energy.
Eq. (4) implies that the increase in K.E. ( E ) of a particle is equal to the product of increase in its
mass m and the square of the speed of light in vacuum i.e.,
E m c 2 (6)
This equation is called Einstein’s mass-energy relation.
According to this equation (6), an amount of energy E in any form is equivalent to a mass m E
2
c
and conversely any mass m is equivalent to an amount of energy E m c 2 . This is called the
principal of equivalence of mass and energy.
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Department of Physics, Deshbandhu College (University of Delhi), New Delhi
Class: [Link]. (H) Semester-II (GE)
Name of Paper: Mechanics Name of Teacher: Dr. Vikram Verma
Relation between Relativistic Momentum and Energy:
The relativistic momentum and energy of a particle of rest mass m0 and moving with velocity v are
respectively given as
m0 v
p mv m0 v (1)
2
1 v2
c
m0 c 2
E mc 2 m0 c 2 (2)
2
1 v
c2
where (1 v 2 ) 1 / 2 .
2
c2
2
2v 2 2c 2 c 2 (3)
2 2
c v
On squaring eq. (1), we have
p 2 2 m0 2 v 2 ( 2 c 2 c 2 )m0 2
p 2 c 2 2 c 4 m0 2 m0 2 c 4 E 2 m0 2 c 4
E 2 p 2 c 2 m0 2 c 4
Transformation of Momentum and Energy:
The proper time interval d is related to the time interval dt observed relative to frame S, by the
relation
d dt
dt d
2 d
1 v2
c
Relativistic momentum: p m0 v
dx dt dx
p x m0 v x m0 m0
dt d d
dy dt dy
p y m0 v y m0 m0
dt d d
dz dt dz
p z m0 v z m0 m0
dt d d
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Department of Physics, Deshbandhu College (University of Delhi), New Delhi
Class: [Link]. (H) Semester-II (GE)
Name of Paper: Mechanics Name of Teacher: Dr. Vikram Verma
m0 c 2
and relativistic energy: E mc 2 m0 c 2
2
1 v2
c
E dt
m0
c2 d
Since both rest mass and proper time interval are Lorentz invariants and hence the quantities
p x , p y , p z and E c 2 get transformed from S to S’ in exactly same manner as x, y, z and t transform.
v
x' ( x vt), y' y, z ' z & t ' (t x)
c2
Thus similar to these transformation equations, the transformation of momentum and energy are
p x ' ( p x v E2 ), p y ' p y , pz ' pz & E' (E v p x )
c
The inverse transformations are
p x ( p x 'v E2' ), p y p y ', p z p z ' & E ( E 'v p x ' )
c
**************
References:
1. Mechanics – by Prof. D.S. Mathur; Page no. 106-160.
2. Mechanics - by J.C. Upadhyaya; Page no.91-130.
Note: For further reading and numerical problems, students are advised to read the above
books given in reference.
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